NFL: Bad boys are back

The NFL's bad boys of 2010 are back from their four-game suspensions. Ben Roethlisberger, left, will rejoin the Steelers, and former Pittsburgh teammate Santonio Holmes, right, will get to make his New York Jets debut. The Houston Texans will also welcome back linebacker Brian Cushing. But as they return, others are in trouble. Click on the photo to see what's going on.AP PHOTO

NFL rosters change constantly. Players come and go, usually on the fringe, throughout the season. And, once in awhile, a Randy Moss changes teams.

But this is different. Three quality players, who have missed one-fourth of their teams' games because of suspensions for various transgressions, are back in action this week.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, a two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback; former teammate Santonio Holmes, the Super Bowl XLIII MVP, now with the New York Jets; and Brian Cushing, the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year last season for the Houston Texans, all figure to make huge impacts for their teams the rest of the way.

Click on the photo to take a look at their situations, and some other players either into or out of trouble with the NFL.

The NFL's bad boys of 2010 are back from their four-game suspensions. Ben Roethlisberger, left, will rejoin the Steelers, and former Pittsburgh teammate Santonio Holmes, right, will get to make his New York Jets debut. The Houston Texans will also welcome back linebacker Brian Cushing. But as they return, others are in trouble. Click on the photo to see what's going on. AP PHOTO
Former USC linebacker Brian Cushing's four-game NFL suspension ended, too, and Coach Gary Kubiak said Cushing will play gains the New York Giants on Sunday. Cushing, the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2009, was suspended because he tested for HCG, a fertility drug that can be used to mask steroid use. From Reggie Bush to Dwayne Jarrett, it's been a tough year for ex-Trojans in the NFL. TEXT BY EARL BLOOM; ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY PAUL CONNORS
Two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger practiced Tuesday, rejoining the Steelers for the first time since their Sept. 2 exhibition final. Pittsburgh is on a bye week, and Big Ben will have two more practices this week and then all of next week to take over the controls of a team that started 3-1 without him. TEXT BY EARL BLOOM; GETTY IMAGES PHOTO BY JARED WICKERSHAM
Former Steelers WR Santonio Holmes should make his regular-season debut as Jet on Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings. New York cut WR David Clowney to make room for Holmes, and Clowney was immediately signed by the Carolina Panthers to replace another troubled WR, Dwayne Jarrett. Holmes should give QB Mark Sanchez a true deep threat. TEXT BY EARL BLOOM; ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY MEL EVANS
Roethlisberger, Cushing and Holmes are back. But San DIego Chargers safety Steve Gregory, who had an interception Sunday, will now get a 4-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. Chargers teammates Steven Cooper and Shawne Merriman have already served similar suspensions. Paul Oliver will likely replace Gregory in San Diego's lineup. TEXT BY EARL BLOOM; ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil uses hand signals to tell his players what to do, which is not unique. The NFL docked Cecil $40,000 this week for giving a one-finger signal to an official during Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. These fines must be pro-rated. Last year, Titans owner Bud Adams was fined $250,000 for a Stone Cold Austin salute during a game. TEXT BY EARL BLOOM; ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO BY MARK HUMPHREY
Dwayne Jarrett , cut Tuesday by the Carolina Panthers is the next ex-USC wide receiver who should follow Mike Williams' lead and rejoin Pete Carroll in Seattle -- just so long as Jarrett doesn't drive impaired when he gets there. He was cut hours after he was pulled over for his second DWI arrest in three years That matches the number of catches Jarrett has this season. He has 35 NFL receptions in four seasons. TEXT BY EARL BLOOM; GETTY IMAGES FILE PHOTO BY SCOTT HALLERAN
The Atlanta Falcons cut linebacker Robert James, a third-year pro from Arizona State, after his four-game NFL suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs ended this week. The Falcons said they didn't want to cut anyone from their 53-man active roster to make room for James. So, like Jarrett, he's looking for work. TEXT BY EARL BLOOM; GETTY IMAGES PHOTO BY KEVIN C. JAMES

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